WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  


<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0001018221
<NAME>                        FLORIDA COAST PAPER COMPANY, L.L.C.
[CIK]                         0001018684
[NAME]                        FLORIDA COAST PAPER FINANCE CORP.
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1996  
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1996  
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1996  
<CASH>                                             7,990  
<SECURITIES>                                           0  
<RECEIVABLES>                                     12,686  
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0  
<INVENTORY>                                       13,560  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                  35,477  
<PP&E>                                           188,927  
<DEPRECIATION>                                     8,010  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   232,384  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             24,442  
<BONDS>                                          165,000  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0  
<PREFERRED>                                            0  
<COMMON>                                               0  
<OTHER-SE>                                             0  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     232,384  
<SALES>                                          125,445  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  (2,997)  
<CGS>                                            126,850  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    128,982  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    (685)  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                (7,698)  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  (10,506)  
<INCOME-TAX>                                           0  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (9,118)  
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0  
<CHANGES>                                              0  
<NET-INCOME>                                      (9,118)  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0